Elevator.



R. A. HATHHORN.

ELEVATOR. APPLICATION FILED MAR. I2. 1915.

Patented July 18, 1916.

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ELEVATOR.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1916.

Application filed March 12, 1915. Serial No. 13,904.

To all rcacm it may concern:

7 Be it known that 1, ROBERT A. HATI-IHORN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston Heights, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in elevators.

The object of the invention is to provide an elevator of the character described equipped with a locking device, whereby the elevator car will be automatically locked against movement in case the cable supporting the same should become broken, and the car is thus prevented, in such an event, from dropping to the bottom of the shaft.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1, shows a front elevation of the elevator. Fig. 2, shows a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on the line a-a, of Fig. 1. Fig. 3, shows a horizontal sectional view, taken on the line cc of Fig. 1, and Figs. 4 and 5, show, respectively, a side elevation and an edge view of the locking wedge employed.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numerals 1, 1, refer, respectively, to the vertical tracks, which are spaced apart and arranged on opposite sides of the elevator shaft and are fixed in their relation to each other in any well known manner. The

car which moves on this track, may be of,

any desired construction. As shown, it includes, the upper and lower transverse beams 2 and 3, which are fixed in their re lation to one another by the side bars 4, 4, and the beam 3, supports the platform 5, forming the floor of the elevator car. The facing sides of the track 1, 1, are abruptly off set from each edge, forming the ribs 6, 6, whoseedges have upwardly inclined ratchet teeth, forming the ratchet faces 7, 7, and these ribs each have vertically extending guides 8, 8, abruptly offset relative to their respective ribs, and the corresponding ends of the beams 2 and 3 are bifurcated, the inner side of their fingers being shaped to con form to and embrace said ribs 6 and guides 8, and to move up and down thereon. Depending from the beam 2, at each end are two bearing members 9, 9, arranged on opposite sides thereof. Two levers 10, 10, are provided, whose lnner ends are adjacent, but whose outer ends are bifurcated, forming the resilient fingers 11, 11, which are pivoted to the lower ends of the corresponding bearing members 9, 9. Two resilient members 12, 12, areemployed, having their upper ends secured to the beam 2, and their other ends pressing downwardly against the inner ends of the respective levers 10, 10. A plate 13, having upturned sides, is attached to the lower end of the lifting cable 14, and this cable passes up between the adjacent ends of the levers 10, 10, and said plate engages underneath the inner ends of said levers and the car is sustained thereby, said levers resting against the beam 2. p

Secured to the free ends of the respective fingers 11, are the locking wedges 15, in alinement with the ratchet faces 7, and a resilient strap as'16, has its upper end secured to each of the wedges 15, and the lower ends of these straps are secured to similar locking wedges 15, also in alinement the ratchet faces 7. The inner sides of the wedges 15, 1.5, have ratchet teeth, but they are normally held out of engagement with the opposing ratchet faces 7, by reason of the resiliency of their supporting fingers 11, and supporting straps 16. The upper ends of the wedges 15, 15, are beveled, being wedge shaped, as stated and the inner sides of the opposing fingers of the bifurcated ends of the beams 2 and 3, are correspondingly beveled. When the car is in motion, it is sustained by the cable 14, I

and the inner ends of the levers 10, 10, rest againstthe under side of the beam 2, operating to lower the free end of the fingers l1, and the wedges 15, carried thereby,

which in turn, operate through the straps 16, to lower thewedges 15, ands'aid wedges 15 and 15, are disengaged from the opposmechanism just described, will operate to elevate the wedges 15, 15, into contact with the sloping faces of the'inner sides of the opposing fingers, and said wedges will be clamped against and engage with the faces 7, and will lockthe car against movement automatically. The lower ends of the strap 16, have oblong slots 17 ,through which pass the respective pins 18, which are secured to the beam 3. These pins hold the lower ends of the straps 16, in position, but do not interfere with their vertical movement.

Y I have shown only one form of this device, but it is obvious that the mechanical structure thereof may be varied without departing from the principle of the invention, and I hereby reserve the right to make such structural modifications, so long as I keep within the scope of the appended claims.

- What I claim is:

1. A device of the character described including opposing vertical tracks fixed in their relation to one another, vertical ribs carried by the facing sides of said tracks, whose op posite edges are provided with upwardly inclined ratchet teeth, a pair of cross beams spaced apart and fixed in their relation to each other, whose ends are bifurcated forming; fingers which embrace the corresponding ribs, bearing members depending from the respective ends of the upper beam, a pair of levers, whose inner ends are adjacent and whose outer ends are bifurcated, forming resilient fingers, which are pivoted to the lower ends of said corresponding bearing members, resilient members pressing downwardly against the inner ends of said levers, a plate having upturned sides underneath the adjacentends of said levers, a cable sustaining said plate, lockingwedges whose inner sides have ratchet teeth secured to said resilient fingers, resilient straps depending from each of said wedges, similar locking wedges carried by the lower ends of said straps, said wedges resting against the inner sides of the corresponding fingers of said beams and being forced inwardly thereby as they are elevated and being thus locked with the ratchet teeth of said ribs.

2. A device of the character described including opposing vertical tracks fixed in their relation to each other, whose opposite edges are provided with ratchet teeth, a pair of cross beams spaced apart and fixed in theirrelation one above the other, whose ends are bifurcated forming fingers which embrace the corresponding tracks, an elevator car supported by said cross beams, a pair of levers pivoted relative .to the upper beam whose inner ends are adjacent and whose outer ends are bifurcated forming resilient fingers, resilient members pressing downwardly against the inner ends of said levers, a plate underneath the adjacent ends of said levers, a cable sustaining said plate, locking wedges whose inner sides have ratchet teeth secured to said resilient fingers, resilient straps depending from each of said wedges, similar locking wedges carried by the lower ends of said straps, said wedges resting against the inner sides of the corresponding fingers of said beams and being forced inwardly thereby as they are elevated and being thus locked with the ratchet teeth of said tracks.

8. A device of the character described in cluding opposing vertical tracks fixed in their relation to each other, whose edges are provided with ratchet teeth, a pair of cross beams spaced apart whose ends are bifurcated forming fingers which embrace the corresponding tracks, an elevator car supported by said cross beams,'a pair of levers pivoted relative to the upper beam whose inner ends are adjacent and whose outer ends are bifurcated forming resilient fingers, resilient members pressing downwardly against the inner ends of said levers, a means engaging underneath the adjacent ends of said levers, a cable sustaining said means, locking wedges whose inner sides have ratchet teeth secured to said resilient fingers, resilient members depending from each of said wedges, similar locking wedges carried by the lower ends of said members, said wedges'resting against the inner sides of the corresponding fingers of said beams and being forced inwardly thereby as they are elevated and being thus locked with the ratchet teeth of said tracks' In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT A. HATHHORN.

Witnesses F. A. LIDDEN, RUBY GLAZNER.

qopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

